Have you ever met someone you disliked from the beginning? In my twenty-five years of life, I've met many such people. I sat quietly, staring at the emptiness, waiting for Jack to arrive. I'd been thinking about the scene I encountered when I came home from the hospital the other day. It looked so real, as if it happened before my eyes. I still remembered the clear face of the young woman. There was blood everywhere. Her screams, pleading for help, were really hard to shake from my head.
Then Chi walked in and told me Jack had arrived. Jack sat in front of me, exuding his strong, masculine perfume. Jack was a young workaholic. I wanted to know what his girlfriend would look like, or who would have enough patience to marry him.
"I surveyed the real estate market, and your house is estimated to be worth $3.4 million. The good news is that there are already two offers for $3.5 million."
"I bought this place for $2 million. The housing market is developing so fast over the years."
"Mr. Wu, if you want to sell it, we could accept the offer right away," he said.
"Jack, we've been friends for a long time. You can sell this house for $3.5 million. You can keep half a million. As long as the buyer agrees not to move in next month."
"Don't worry, they're not in a hurry. They won't be here until the middle of the following month. After all the paperwork is ready, it will be at least one and a half months." I could hear the excitement in his voice.
"Jack, is there any big news?"
"Mr. Wu, what kind of news?"
"Such as murder or disappearing women?"
"Um... oh, an immigrant worker from Vietnam was killed."
"Man or woman?"
"Man."
"Forget it," I said. "Help me find a small apartment."
"Of course."
Jack's phone rang, and he excused himself to answer it. After a while, he came back and told me that he had to meet another client. He walked to the screen door and hurried back quickly.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Regarding the Vietnamese migrant worker, his wife and daughter are missing. I have to go. I'll notify you when I find a suitable place for you."
Missing... the migrant worker's wife and daughter are missing. I shook my head at the coincidence. I hardly slept that night because throughout the night I heard chains dragging back and forth inside my bedroom.
Throughout the week, I felt that someone would knock on my window when I was sleeping in bed. I heard knocking, and I heard voices inside my head. When I fell asleep, I had nightmares. I dreamed of people I didn't even know. I dreamed of places I'd never been. I started to lose my mind.
When I woke up that morning, Chi told me that it's Friday the twelfth. I had an appointment to go see the psychiatrist.
Chi drove me to the clinic and took me to the waiting room. Soon, a medical assistant came out and took me into a room. I could hear soft waterfall music. The medical assistant took my blood pressure and asked all sorts of BS questions. I knew this was part of her job, but before continuing, she asked the same question two or three times. I gave her a yes or no answer, but she would still rehearse the question. I am not a very patient person. I also wanted to know, since the medical assistant had already asked me so many questions, what kind of additional questions the psychiatrist would ask?
When I was sitting there waiting for the psychiatrist, the room suddenly became very cold. I felt the hair on my neck and arms stand up.
"Help me," I heard a woman's voice whispering softly past my ear. "Help me."
My heart began to pound.
"Help me," she said weakly. "Help me..."
"Who are you?" I turned left and right.
"Help me." I saw a pair of hands reaching for my feet.
In a state of panic, I stood up and quickly backed against the wall.
The woman crawled towards me slowly on her hands and feet. I could hear the loud sound of chains being dragged in my ears. She shuffled slowly.
"Help me." She begged. "Help her!"
"Go away! Stay away! I'll call the police!" She kept crawling. When her hand touched my foot, I squeezed my eyes shut. "This is not true. This is not true. I am blind. I am blind. Blind people cannot see..."
"Please help me." The woman grasped my ankle tightly. "She has no time!"
Then the door opened. Guess where I was standing? I was standing right by the dilapidated door, but on the swinging side. The freaking door swung right into my face!
"Good morning, Mr. Wu," said the dumbass psychiatrist. He called his medical assistant. "Lin, Mr. Wu isn't in the room. Is he in the restroom?"
"I'm behind the door," I said.
"My God, I'm so sorry, Mr. Wu, I'm so sorry." He closed the door. "Your nose is bleeding. Sit down and let me help you stop the bleeding before we start."
Stupid bastard, I swore. If my handsome face is damaged in any way, I'll sue you! I'll ensure your clinic goes bankrupt!
"It's just a bleeding nose; it's no big deal," I said politely.
After sitting down, I had to listen to the psychiatrist rant for two hours and complete his psychiatric examination. The psychiatrist told me I was fine. He didn't see any signs that I was mentally ill.
"How about what I saw? They come and go!"
"Mr. Wu, sometimes, when a big accident like yours happens, our mental health can be a little off. But once everything settles, you'll return to normal. I read your files. Your mother recently passed away, and then shortly afterward, you became blind. These are major life changes. I suggest you find a companion... Service dogs are great companions."
"Do you think I'm lonely?"
"A service dog can be a good companion for emotional and physical support."
"I'm not lonely! I've never been lonely! You're such a shit!" I stood up, grabbed my cane, and pushed the door hard, but the stupid thing wouldn't budge. It seemed the door wanted me to stay, to be humiliated more by this psychiatrist. After several minutes, it still wouldn't open.
"Mr. Wu, please pull the door handle, don't push."
I pulled the door, and it opened. I stalked out of the stupid clinic, seething. Then I realized that, especially during the day, when I couldn't see anything, everything became painfully bright. I reached into my pocket; apparently I'd forgotten my sunglasses in the stupid clinic. I refused to go back. I would try my best to call Chi to pick me up. I walked slowly down the street to a small park and sat under a tree on a wooden bench.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Chi's number, but it was still too bright to see the dial pad. I pressed the voice recognition button.
"Call Chi."
"'According to Universal Energy Arts and Yogichild Academy…'"
I got so mad, I tossed my phone away. I heard a dog wailing softly. I leaned back against the rose bushes and saw a blue dog with sapphire blue eyes staring at me. The poor dog looked terrified. Then I realized I could see the color of the dog. I walked slowly and stretched out my hand.
"Come here, I won't hurt you." I checked the dog. It didn't have a name tag. The dog slowly approached. I thought about what the psychiatrist said. I picked up the dog. "I'll take you home to be my service dog."
I held the dog and picked up my phone. I dialed Chi, telling him to pull the car over. As I returned to the small road and waited for Chi to pull the car over, I realized I could see everything as clearly as I had before I was blind. I realized my vision was back. I looked at the dog and realized, since I could see now, I didn't need a service dog anymore.
"I don't think I need you anymore. I can see now."
I put down the dog and looked up. Instantly, I couldn't see anything anymore. Then I picked up the stupid dog, and I could see. I did this about ten times, and the result was the same every time. I sighed. I really had to keep the dumb dog.
Chi stopped the car, and I got into the back seat. I put the dog next to me. The car drove slowly away from the park.
"'The only stupid person between us is you.' I slowly turned my head and stared at a handsome man. His sapphire eyes glared at me angrily. 'I am a wolf, not a dog.' He rolled his blue sapphire eyes at me, which sent a chill down my spine. 'Hey, Blindy, it's best to pay attention to your mouth, because I might just eat you alive!'"